Article by
Barbados Today

Published on
July 12, 2014

Boos and catcalls rained down on hosts Brazil as they ended their World Cup with a 3-0 defeat by the Netherlands in Saturday’s World Cup third-place play-off in Brasilia.
First half goals from Robin van Persie and Daley Blind and a stoppage time third from Georginio Wijnaldum deepened Brazil’s woes after Tuesday’s 7-1 thrashing by Germany in the semi-final in Belo Horizonte.
This is the first time Luiz Felipe Scolari’s beleaguered hosts have succumbed to consecutive losses on home soil since 1940.
Defeat does not augur well for Scolari’s talks about his future later on Saturday, July 12, 2014, with the Brazilian federation.
Manchester United-bound louis van Gaal’s Holland claim third after missing out on Sunday’s final when defeated by Argentina in Wednesday’s semi-final on penalties.
Captain Thiago Silva returned after missing the Germany drubbing due to suspension and almost his first act was to bring down Dutch forward Arjen Robben in the box.
Van Persie converted the third minute penalty for his fourth goal of the tournament while Algerian referee Djamel Haimoudi dished out a yellow card to Silva who was fortunate not to be sent off.
David Luiz, bought by Paris Saint-Germain from Chelsea for £40 million before the World Cup, was badly at fault for the second. His headed clearance went straight to Blind who volleyed in for his first international goal on 17 minutes.
Wijnaldum’s goal in the first minute of stoppage time rounded off another desperate night for Scolari’s side. (AFP)